Air vent for hot water radiators and the like



Jan. 29, 1935. J. c. MILLER AIR VENT FOR HOT WATER RADIATORS AND THE LIKE Filed June 6, 1952 Patented Jan. 29, 1935 UNITEDTVVSTATES PATENT OFFICE 1 ,989,423 am VENT. Foal nor WATER RADIATORS AND THE IKE mm 0. Miller, South Haven,.Mich. Application June 6; 1932, Serial-No. 615,653 I 11 Claims. (01. 137-122) The main objects of this invention are: First, to provide an automatic air vent for hot water radiators and thelike which, while efiec tive-for the purpose, is also efiective in preventing 6 the escape of water;

Second, to provide an automatic air rent of this character which is not likely to become inoperative in use. V

Third, to provide an automatic air ventfor hot water radiators and the like which may be sold as an assembled unit and later installed.

Fourth, to provide a structure having these advantages which is simple and economical in its parts.

Objects pertaining to details and economies of my invention will definitely appear from the description to follow. The invention is pointed out in the claims.

A structure embodying the features of. my invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which: I

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view partially in section on line 11 of Fig. 2 of a hot water radiator equipped with my improved air vent.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary elevation looking from the right of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 isan enlarged; fragmentary section showme details of the valve.

Fig. 4 is a view mainly in side elevation of a modified form or embodiment of my invention.

Referringqto the drawing, 1 represents: a hot water radiatorzconsisting of a plurality of sections 2 having alined openings 3' provided with lateral flanges 4 internally threaded and con- 35 nected by means of. the cylindrical couplings 5.

The outer flanged'opening of one radiator section as 6 is provided with a. threaded plug. or closure 9' having a polygonal head j 10 adapted to receive a wrench. The closure is provided with ashouldered; bore 11, the outer or enlarged portionof which is threaded. This bore is locatedin an angle 13 of the polygonal head, the anglebeing constituted by the'head-sides or faces 14.

The plug-like valveseat-member 15 is thread: ed into the enlarged threaded portion of the bore for longitudinal. adjustment therein. Thisvalve seat member has acentral vent passage 16 and a conical valve seat 17 centering in the passage. The head 10 of. the closure has a flange-like portion at the outer end of the bore 11. constituting a nipple. 19 on which is mounted the cap 20 provided' with a. lateral discharge opening- 21, preferably directed downwardly.

The cylindrical valve 22 isprovided with a spherically rounded seat engaging portion- 23 the valve being slidably disposed in the reduced inner portion 24 of the bore 11 for longitudinal movementand alsorestricted lateral movement therein. Therounded seat engaging portion of the valve coacting with a conical seat-is highly efficient as a closure, and it also keeps-the valve seat wiped clean and prevents obstructions accumulating thereon, which would tend to hold the valve from its seat. When, the valve is opened it drops down in the bottom of the boreand when closed it finds its seat with a wiping action.

The valve is controlled by the elongated cylin- I drical float 25 which is of a diameter substantial- 1y lessthan the closure and of such diameter that it may project through: the couplings for the sections and swing therein. The float has an angled arm 26 pivotally connected at 27 to the pin-like support 28 on the closure plug, which is slotted to receive the arm. The "inner end of the slot constitutes a-stop 29 limiting thedownward movement of the float.

. A lever 31 is pivotally mountedv at 32 on the pinlike support 33 which isslotted to receive the end of the: lever, the lever being arranged throug-h a slot in the support 28 and pivotally connected to the valve 22.

The lever being arranged by the link 36.

With this arrangement the raising .of thevfloat by thewater within theradiator. closes the-valve, which, as stated is automatically centered to close the central vent passage. The lateral movement of thevalve inlfindingits seat is indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 3,. and, also, this movement permits the swingingof the valvelwhich results fromits mounting and actuation by" the lever.

Referring to Fig. 4, there is illustrated a mod'ification similarto the one described above i'n connection with Figs. 1-3, inclusive, with the exception that the cap 40 is externally threaded for reception by the internally threaded socket 41 provided'in the closure 9- concentric' with the bore 11-. In both cases the capsare disposed within thehead' 10 of the-closure 9 for obviating damage or injury by the tool which is used to turn the closure.

The automatic air vent-is'formed as a unit with the closure 9 so that it may be used with" a con ventional' hot water radiator by simply removing the conventional closure" and replacing it with the closure of. the invention:

In operation} so 5 long as the water level within the radiator remains below a predetermined position, the air vent remains open, but as soon as the water level reaches its proper position the valve 22 is automatically closed, thereby preventing further air venting and water leakage through the valve, the latter being arranged above the proper water level. The device is simple in construction, economical and highly eflective in operation, and may be used with conventional hot water radiators in the manner described by simply replacing the conventional end closure or plug.

I have illustrated and describedmy improve:

ments in embodiments which I'have foundrver'y practical. I have not attempted to illustrateor describe other embodiments or adaptations as it is believed this disclosure will.enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt my improve-' ments as may be desired. Having thus described my invention, claim as new ent isi 7 I II An air vent valve for a hot water radiator having a plurality of sections having alined connecting openings at the top thereof, the outer section having a threaded opening alined with the connecting openings for said sections, said air vent valvecomprising a closure plug forsaid outer section opening provided with a polygonal head adaptedto receive a wrench and having a bore provided with a reduced portion forming a shouldered bore positioned in one ofthe angles of the head, a plug likevalve "seat member having a central vent passage and a conical seat at its inner end centering in said passage, a cylindrical valve having a semi-spherical seat engaging portion arranged in the reduced inner portion of said bore," the bore being of such diameter as to permit limited lateral movement of the valve therein, a'pair of longitudinallyslotted pin-like supports projectin inwardly from said closure plug in alined relation with said valve, a lever pivoted in the slotof o'ne 5 of said supports and arranged through the slot of the other support and pivotally connected to: the inner end of said valve, an elongated cylindrical float provided with an angled arm pivoted on the support adjacent the valve'whereby said float is adapted to be supported within said connecting openings for said radiator sections, saidlatter support having a 'stop coacting with said leverto limit the down-. ward movement of the float, and a link connecting the end'ot said float arm to said valve lever. 2. The combination of a closure plug for hot water radiators or thelike provided with a polyg-v onal head adapted to receive a wrench and having a shouldered bore positioned in one of the angles of the head, a plug-like valve seat member having a central vent passage and a conical seat at its inner end centering in said passage and threaded'for adjustment in said bore, a cylindrical.valve having a semi-spherical seat engaging portion arranged in said bore, the bore being of such diameter as to permit limited lateral movement of the valve therein, a pair of longitudinally slotted pin-like supports projecting inwardly from said closure plug in alined relation with said valve, a lever pivoted in the'slotof one of said supports and arranged through the slot of the other support and pivotally connected to the inner endof said'valve, an elongated cylindrical float provided with an angled arm pivoted on the support adjacent the valve, said latter support havinga stop coacting with said leverto'limit what I and desire to secure by Letters ;1?at-:

the downward movement of the float, and a link connecting the end of said float arm to said valve lever.

3. An air vent valve for a hot water radiator or the like having a plurality of sections having alined connecting openings at the top thereof, the outer section having an opening alined with the connecting openings for said sections, said air vent valve comprising a'closureplug'for said outer section opening having a bore adjacent one side thereof, a valve seat member arranged in said bore and having a conical seat at its inner end. and a vent,.passage centering in said seat, 'a valvedispose'din said bore and having a semispherical seat engaging portion, a lever pivoted on :,said plug and. pivotally connected to the inner end of said valve, an elongated horizontally-disposed cylindrical float of a diameter substantial- 1 1y less than said closure plug provided with an arm pivotally mounted on said closureplug, said float being adapted to b'e"'arranged for operation insaid connecting openings, a link connecting said float arm to said lever, and a stop limiting thedownward movement of's'aid float, there being means for laterally supporting said lever and 1108.13 I, r 4. An air vent valve for a hot water radiator or the like having a plurality of sections having alinedco'nnecting openings at the top thereof, the outer section having an opening alined with the connecting openings for said sections, said air vent valve comprising a closure plug for said outer section opening and having a bore adjacent one side thereof, a valve seat member arranged in said bore having a conical seat at its inner end and a vent passage centering in said seat, a valve disposed in said bore and having a semi-spherical seat engaging portion, a lever pivoted on said closure plug and pivotally connected to the inner end of said valve, an elongated horizontally disposed cylindrical float of a diameter substantially less than said closure plug provided with an arm pivotally mounted on saidclosure plug, said float being adapted to-be arranged for operation in said connecting openings; anda link connecting said float arm to said lever.

5. The combination of a closure plug for hot water radiators and the like having a polygonal head adapted to receive a wrench and a shouldered bore positioned in one of theangles of the head, a valve seat member threaded into said bore for adjustment'therein and having a conical seat at 'its inner end, a vent passage centering in said seat, a cylindrical valve having 'a semi-spherical seat engaging portion reciprocatingly arranged in the inner portion of said bore, the bore being of such diameter as to permit limited lateral movement of the valve, a lever pivoted on said closure plug and pivotally connected to the inner end of said valve, a float provided with an arm pivotally mounted on said closure plug, a link connecting said float arm to said lever, and a stop limiting the downward movement of said float, there being means for laterally supporting said lever and float arm.

- -6.- The combination of a closure plug for hot water radiators and the like having a polygonal head adapted to receive a wrench and a shouldered bore positioned in one of the angles of the head, a valve" seat member threaded into said bore for adjustment therein and having a conical seat at ,its inner end, a vent passage centering in said seat, a cylindrical valve having a semi-spherical seat engaging portion reciprocatingly arranged in the inner portion of said bore,

the bore being of such diameter as to permit limited lateral movement of the valve, a lever pivoted on said closure plug and pivotally connected to the inner end of said valve, a float provided with an arm pivotally mounted on said closure plug, and a link connecting said float arm to said lever.

7. An automatic air vent for hot water radiators provided with a closure having a polygonal head and a bore located in the angle formed by two sides thereof, a valve in said bore, said closure having an internally threaded socket at the end of said bore, and an externally threaded hollow cap engaged in said socket for receiving the discharge from said valve and directing it laterally.

8. A device of the character set forth comprising a threaded closure plug having a polygonal head and having a shouldered bore, the outer or enlarged portion of which is threaded, the bore being located near the top of the plug when in normal position, a plug-like valve seat member threaded into the enlarged outer portion of the bore for longitudinal adjustment therein, the valve seat member having a central vent passage and a conical valve seat centering in the passage, a valve slidably disposed in the inner portion oi Said bore for longitudinal and restricted lateral movement therein and having a rounded valve seat engaging end for coaction with said conical valve seat, an upper pin-like support on the plug spaced below said bore and having a vertical slot, a lower pin-like support on the plug and having a slotted end, a lever pivoted at its lower end in the slotted end of said lower pin-like support and pivotally connected at its upper end to said valve, the lever extending through the slot in said upper pin-like member, an angled float carrying arm pivoted to the end of said upper pin-like support, and a link connecting the end of the float arm to the lever between the valve and the upper pinlike support.

9. A device of the character set forth comprising a closure plug having a shouldered bore located near the top of the plug when in normal position, a plug-like valve seat member disposed in the enlarged outer portion of the bore, the valve seat member having a vent passage and a valve seat centering in the passage, a valve slidably disposed in the inner portion of said bore for longitudinal and restricted lateral movement therein and having a valve seat engaging end for coaction with said conical valve seat, an upper support on the'plug spaced below said bore and having a vertical slot, a lower support on the plug, a lever pivoted at its lower end in said lower support and pivotally connected at its upper end to said valve, the lever extending through the slot in said upper member, an angled float arm pivoted to said upper support, and a link connecting the float arm to the lever.

10. A device of the character set forth comprising a closure plug having an axial bore near its top provided with a transverse valve seat, a valve arranged in said bore for coaction with said seat and having a slotted end, an upper support having a vertical slot and a slotted end, a lower support having a slotted end, the valve and supports being arranged in vertical alinement with the lower support near the bottom of the plug and the upper support slightly above the center of the plug but below the valve, a blade-like lever disposed through the slot in said upper support and pivotally connected at its lower end in the slotted end of said lower support and at its upper end in the slotted end of said valve, an angled float arm pivoted in the slotted end of said upper support, and a link having slotted ends receiving said lever and the end of said float arm and pivotally connected thereto, the link being arranged between the upper support and the valve.

11. A device of the character set forth comprising a closure plug having an axial bore near its top provided with a transverse valve seat, a valve arranged in said bore for coaction with said seat, an upper support, a lower support, the valve and supports being arranged in vertical alinement with the lower support near the bottom of the plug and the upper support below the valve, a

lever pivotally connected at its lower end to said lower support and at its upperend to said valve, an angled float arm pivoted to said upper support, and a link connecting said lever and said float arm, the link being arranged between the upper support and the valve.

JOHN C. MILLER. 

